(Inclosure 4.)-Acting Consul-General Fraser to Acting Consul

General Warren.

SIR,

Hankow, June 18, 1900.

IN confirmation of my telegram of yesterday I have the honour to inform you of an interview which, in prompt acquiescence with my request made on receipt of your telegram of the 16th June, the Viceroy Chang granted me yesterday morting.

There were present, also, the Customs Taotai T'sên and the Secretaries Kaw Hung Beng and Liang.

So soon as the attendants had withdrawn I explained that the want of energy of the northern officials had led to men being landed by various Powers, and, in consequence, to a very serious situation.

I then produced an English copy of Lord Salisbury's message which I translated into Chinese and handed to Mr. Kaw, who also translated it in almost identical terms.

The Viceroy, who listened with intense interest, at once assured me that he was fully aware of his duty to maintain order and afford protection in his jurisdiction, not only because of Treaty obligations, but also for his own interest and reputation. He was in telegraphic communication with Nanking, and he and his colleague Liu were of one mind, and were taking all possible precautions against outbreaks, whether anti-foreign or not, on the part of Secret Societies or bad characters.

Although such cases, as the sudden riot near Tien-mên, to which I had referred, might occur, they would be dealt with so promptly and thoroughly as to make them rather a warning than an encouragement to the disaffected.

His Excellency did not desire the presence of a British squadron, which would be misconstrued by his people just now; but he repeatedly assured me that he and the Viceroy at Nanking were of one mind as to the advisability of acting in concert with Britain (binding themselves to England was his phrase), and should he come to doubt his ability to maintain order, he would at once consult, through Her Britannic Majesty's Consul, with Lord Salisbury.

As to events in the north, he ascribed them to the EmpressDowager's listening to the "stupid men of no experience who pretended that the suppression of the Boxers would involve injustice to loyal subjects," and he was especially vehement against Tung-Fu Hsiang and his Kansub army.

The Viceroy suggested that missionaries should be particularly careful at this juncture, and expressed readiness to provide special guards for any specified chapel and station. He was gratified to hear that I had advised the calling in of all women and children from outlying places.

ports where protection was required for the European communities, so that there should be no waste of strength.

His Excellency subsequently informed Sir T. Sanderson that the Russian, German, Austro-Hungarian, and Italian Governments, who had been consulted, had agreed that such an arrangement would be desirable.

I have to-day informed M. Cambon that Her Majesty's Government entirely agree with his Excellency in principle, but do not wish to fetter the discretion of the British Admiral in the movements of the ships under his orders. They have no doubt, however, that the Admiral will communicate freely with his foreign colleagues in all matters in which there is to be combined action, and where consultation on any particular matter involving danger to Europeans may be necessary.

His Excellency expressed a wish that the consultation should extend to the action of individual vessels at isolated ports, even where no combined action is contemplated. I pointed out, however, to his Excellency, that the very different position of the various Powers in respect to naval force in China would make any such arrangement very difficult. I am, &c., Sir E. Monson.

SALISBURY.

Chinese Imperial Edict issued August 2.-(Communicated by Sir Chihchen Lofengluh, August 8, 1900.)

IN view of the existence of hostilities between certain Chinese subjects and foreign Powers caused by the anti-Christian feelings of the Chinese people, we have afforded reasonable protection to the foreign Representatives in Peking, and the Tsung-li Yamên has sent to the Legations letters of inquiries and proposals for their safe conveyance under escort to Tien-tsin, to avoid the apprehension of further attack from rebels before the complete restoration of peace and order in the capital. We have now, on the advice of Li Hung-chang and Lew Kwung-yih, to authorize Yung-lu to appoint beforehand good and reliable high civil and military officials, with selected troops of soldiers for the purpose of escorting them from Peking to Tien-tsin as soon as they have fixed the date of departure. If there be any rebels en route trying to endanger the safety of the party, the officials in charge have to destroy the rebels at once, so as not to commit any blunder.

Before their departure from Peking, the freedom of telegraphic communication in plain words with their respective Governments

Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received August 2.) American Embassy, London, August 2, 1900.

MY LORD,

UNDER instructions from my Government I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, on the 30th July last, the Secretary of State of the United States, in answer to a suggestion of Li Hungchang that the Ministers might be sent under safe escort to Tien-tsin, provided the Powers would engage not to march on Peking, replied that the Government of the United States would not enter into any arrangement regarding the disposition or treatment of Legations, without first having free communication with Mr. Conger, the American Minister at Peking; that the responsibility for their protection rests upon the Chinese Government; and that power to deliver at Tien-tsin presupposes power to protect and open communication with them, and this was insisted on.

This message was delivered by Mr. Goodnow, our Consul at Shanghae, on the 31st ultimo, to Li Hung-chang, who then inquired whether "if free communications were established between Ministers and their Governments, it could be arranged that the Powers should not advance on Peking pending negotiations.”

To this inquiry the following reply was sent on the 1st August by the Secretary of State :

"I do not think it expedient to submit the proposition of Earl Li to the other Powers; free communication with our Representatives in Peking is demauded as a matter of absolute right, and not as a favour. Since the Chinese Government admits that it possesses the power to give communication, it puts itself in an unfriendly attitude by denying it. No negotiations seem advisable until the Chinese Government shall have put the Diplomatic Representatives of the Powers in full and free communication with their respective Governments, and removed all danger to life and liberty. We would urge Earl Li earnestly to advise the Imperial authorities of China to place themselves in friendly communication and co-operation with the relief expedition; they are assuming heavy responsibility in acting otherwise."

Should your Lordship wish to see me with regard to the above, I shall hold myself at your disposition.

I have, &c.,

The Marquess of Salisbury.

JOSEPH H. CHOATE.

Total killed in garrison, 60; wounded, 110.

Over 200 women and children refugees in this Legation. We have strengthened our fortifications, and can hold out ten days unless severely attacked.

Chinese Government are trying to persuade foreign Envoys to leave Peking for Tien-tsin with wives and families. Remembering Cawnpore, we have no intention of leaving unless under escort of European troops, and we are temporizing to gain time.

Up to date, Chinese Government have refused us permission to send cypher messages to our Governments.

Sir C. Scott to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received August 8.) (Telegraphic.) St. Petersburgh, August 8, 1900. COUNT LAMSDORFF informs me that the services of Count Waldersee have been offered by the German Emperor to take the general command of the operations of the international forces in Pechili, and that the idea will meet with no objection on the part of the Russian Government.

Sir C. Scott to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received August 8.) (Telegraphic.) St. Petersburgh, August 8, 1900. AN Imperial Edict received from Peking was communicated to Count Lamsdorff by the Chinese Minister. After explaining the situation, it says that negotiations are proceeding with the foreign Ministers with a view to all Europeans in Peking being sent to Tien-tsin under a safe escort of troops, in company with High Court dignitaries, who would be responsible for their lives and safety to the Throne, and that before leaving the Ministers are to be allowed to communicate direct with their respective Governments en clair.

In reply Count Lamsdorff observed that he awaited confirmation of the information in this Edict by a direct communication from the Ministers themselves.

His Excellency has received no official news of any engagement. or of an advance on Peking. The latest telegram from Admiral Alexieff says, on the contrary, that it was agreed by all the Commanders that it was quite impossible to advance on Peking before the middle of the month. A reconnaissance in force from Tien-tsin may, he thinks, possibly have been made.

Sir C. Mac Donald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received August 9.)

Peking, August 4, 1900.

(Telegraphic.)

[Figures of this telegram communicated by Chinese Minister, August 9.]

THE Corps Diplomatique has to-day been informed by the Tsung-li Yamên that the foreign Governments have on many occasions asked the Chinese Ministers that we should leave Peking under sufficient escort. Yamên ask us, therefore, to fix the date of our departure from Peking, and to arrange conditions of departure.

We have answered that we are referring the matter to our Governments to have their instructions, without which we cannot leave our posts.

In order to allow us to leave in security, it is essential that foreign troops come to take us away, and that they should be in sufficient numbers to escort 800 Europeans, of whom 200 are women and children, 50 wounded, and more than 3,000 native Christians whom we cannot leave here to be massacred. Under no conditions would it be safe to trust to a Chinese escort.

All the foreign Representatives are sending to their Governments the above telegram.

Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received August 9.)

MY LORD,

American Embassy, London, August 9, 1900.

I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that the Chinese Minister at Washington communicated on the 8th instant to the Secretary of State of the United States an Imperial Ediet, dated 2nd August, in response to the Joint Memorial of Li Hungchang and Liu Kun-yi, proposing the sending of the foreign Ministers from Peking to Tien-tsin.

The Edict reads as follows:

"Throughout the disturbances recently caused by our subjects on account of Christian Missions, which have resulted in a conflict of forces, it has been found necessary to afford protection to all the foreign Ministers in Peking on repeated occasions. The Tsung-li Yamên sent notes inquiring after their welfare, and as Peking has not yet been restored to order, and precautionary measures may not secure absolute safety, the foreign Ministers are being consulted as to the proposed plan of detailing troops to escort them safely to Tien-tsin for temporary shelter, so that they may be free from